Learn to read your own lab results
 

I recently saw a doctor new to me- an internal medicine dr. He had pulled some of my records from some other physicians. I told him that my thyroid tests have always showed normal. He told me that the thyroid tests that he had from my other physicians all showed low. I don't know if the normal range varies by lab, physician, changes year to year, or if doctors who claim there is nothing wrong with my thyroid don't want to admit that they are wrong after I insist on the test. I have also figured out that although there are "normal ranges" alot of times the normal ranges do not take weight and other specifics into account.

You'll find that "normal" ranges of most blood tests vary somewhat from lab to lab, but with thyroid tests, they vary more. A TSH of 5 used to be considered normal, but some years ago the top of the range was moved down (remember, the higher your TSH the lower your thyroid function) to around 3. I think some doctors still look at a TSH of 4 or 5 and think "normal."

Here is a link to the 2003 press release of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) trying to raise awareness of the new standards.

http://thyroid.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi...icle_id%3D4584

Abby

Christel, Please go see an endocrinologist for further testing. A TSH is not the only test they can and should do. If your TSH is low, that could mean hyperthyroidism.

It's amazing what doctors don't tell patients. I always get my records. Though I've even had situations where all of my records were not given to me! So get the doctor notes too to see if something is written in there that's not told to you.

I'm sorry you didn't get the info you needed.

Annie

I have never been referred to an endocrinologist. I have actually been surprised on this forum to see all the posts with endocrinology references. I do need to request a copy of my records from every dr. If anyone should have them, it should be me. Anyway, with three recent visits and many upcoming, I'm now taking anything any dr. says simply as their own opinion and will simply say "thank-you."

Christel